# Step 1. Understand the Benefits of Code Adoption

Before beginning the code adoption process, states and jurtsdlcllons should understand the benefits realized through energy code adoption. 

## Description

The pnmary goal 

### of an energy code orstandard isto coneeiW energy. 

### ComrnetciaJ !Uidlnga and residential householda In the lkllted 

### States consume nearty 50% 

# or IN natloris total pdmary enetgy, 70% 

### ofthe nation's electJ1clly, 

### and acccurtfor one-third 

### of the nation's greemouse emlllllona..1 A 

### report bythe McKinsey Global Institute 

### f!Uld 

### thatAmarica could reduc:e enargy use in
,_and existing bliklinga by more than one qr..wter by2020 'Afth measures that 

### pay for them88Mev.tthln 1o )'ears.2 Energy code adoption enables 

### r.wand renowlad l'lllllldentlal 

### and commercial 

### atructurM to achiiMI the energy effidency outlined In the

### code.

In addition to energy 

### effldency, energy codes;

• save mona,. The energy and



### cost 88111ngs 

### that result 

### from adoption 

### ofenetgy 

### codes can 

### be algnlllc:ant. It 

### Ia 

### eatImated that building energy 

### codeswill produce 

### a financial benefit 

### to ownan of nearly 

### $2 billion**antU~IIy** by2015, rtslng to OW!!' $15 billion annually by 2030. This benefit Ia a!Neved by aaving over 14 quadrillion Btu 

### ofenergyfrom 2009-2030, an estimated annual sal.tngs 

### of 1. 7 quadrillion Btu by 

### 2030.3 Consider 

### !tiscase in point: studies 8how

### thattransforming the building llldortoemploy

more**~clent** design, equipment, and solar power 

### c::cUd cut projected 

### overall houaehold**ene~gy** lllq)8!1Bes

### from $285 biIlion 

### to $130 billion by2030. Falling 

### to catalyze !Uidlng sector transformations wlllndae the COlli 

### of meeting long-tenn climate 

### goal8 byat 1eut $500 billion 

### per year globally. 4

• R8duce emlalona. Buildings

use a significant amount 

### of**ene~gy** and, 

### aa a result, 

### aeate oonalcllllrabla emissions. The projected savfngs from energy 

### codestranslates Into an 

### estimated**oum~atiw** BB11ings by 2030 

### of800 million mallietons of COz--eq!Nilant

### to IWT!OIIIng 146 million vehldea from our nation'& roaciMiya. A study

### anlucted by 

### !lw Climate Pol jot Initiattva <§ found that 8tales that adopted federal building energy 

### codes 

### The 

### U.S. Green Building Council 

### (USGBC) conducted

## a**Jl~H~X r!il**  

### on the numberof jobs associated with green buildingpractices. 

### The results showthat the 

### economic impact

### from 

### green building construction 

## is significantand 

### will continue 

## to growas 

### the demand forgreen buildings rises.


### Green construction spending 

### currentlysupports over 2 

### miNion jobs andgenerates 

### over$100 bHifon 

### In gross domesticproduct and wages. Bythe year2013, this study

### estimates thatgreen buildings will

### supportnearly 8 miNionjobs &CtDss occupations ranging 

### from construction 

### managers andcatpenters 

## to truck drivers and

## cost esttmators. 

### USGBC

## also supports job creation 

### and economic 

### ac;t;v;ty. Leadership 

### in Energy

### and Environmental Design (LEED). LEED-related spending has 

### alrrJady generated 15,000jobs since 

### 2000, and

### by 2013 this studyforecasts that

### an additional230,000 

### jobs will

### be created.

reduoed household enetgy UB8Qe by 1 

### 0% and hoUBehold greenhouse gas emissions by 18%from 1988-2008.5



### • Cl'8lll8joN. The imova!M use of improved technology in bliklinge 

### and the

Increasing naacl forenergy codaexpam will create employment opportglltlas ACE LEARIIINCI SERIES

ACE Overview 

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## 113

### 7128f2015 step 

### 1. Understand the 

### Benefi1s of

### Code Adoption 

## IBuildirg Energy Codes PrO(J'am
around the nation. A1l new codes are aeated for greater energy efficiency in buildings, many 

### newjobs will become available, including technical experts, duct and air leakage professionals, quality control assessors, building and system commissioning agents, energy auditors, and compliance officers. Completing proJect retrofits and building weatheflzallon wtll aeate 

### new employment opportunities as well.
• Protect consumare and support grid reliability. Energy codes reduce utility



### costs, impi'!M! indoor air quality and reduce emissions--protecting consumers and bolstering the economy. More stringent energy code provisions reduce heating and cooling costs, not only making comfortable living conditions more affordable, but also putting money back into the pockets 

### of consumers. Additional funds allow
consumers to spend more on other goods and seNice&--individuals haw more money to spend on items in the local economy and business owners have more money to spend on business lmpi'!M!ments, Including Investments and employee benefits. Energy code provisions also reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improving the indoor air quality of homes and businesses and keeping
consumers comfortable and healthy. Knowing the energy efficiency 

### of buildings and homes also allows consumers to make educated, informed decisions when buying, renting, or leasing a building and protects them from expensive utility bills and future retrofits. Through system sizing and inaeased controls, energy codes are able to curb the impact that buildings ha...e on the energy grid. By deaeasing the impact and peak loads of buildings, energy codes help lessen the 

### stress on the grid, which increases grid reliability. In addition, energy codes that reduce building energy consumption also help reduce our nation's dependency on foreign energy sources.
• Improve health. The Building Codes AJ!sistance Project (BCAP) reported that the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that buming fossil fuels contributed to numerous health issues, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and low birth weight, among others. As a result, health care costs have inaeased to cover emergency room and hospital expenses. Energy.etfident buildings reduce fossil fuel emissions and thus lower the risk of related health issues. 

## Recommendations
States and jurisdictions will benefit greatly 

### by understanding and discussing the benefits of code adoption in relation to their partirular energy goals. It is important, however, to undenstand that the benefits 

### of code adoption vary greatly 

### by audience. Consumers and building 

### owners will generally be interested in much different code benefits than an elected official 

### or policymaker.

When discussing the benefits of energy code adoption, tailor your argument towards a specific audience. BECP and the Online Code Environment and Advocacy Network (OCEAN) have created resource guides to educate groups and indMduals interested in and affected 

### by energy code adoption. These 

### resource guides, as well as additional pamphlets, fact sheets, and benefit 

### overviews are listed in the resources section in this step.

In addition, producing a fad sheet that is state- or**jurisdiction~pecific** may have the greatest impact on the intended audience. Mississippi, for example, has created a suite of energy code fact sheets for residential and commerdal energy codes as they relate to the build environment In the state (Resources 1-3 In this step). These fact sheets highlight code benefits, energy savings, case studies, and additional resources. Statespecific infonnation regarding incremental cost analysis, including break-even point and retum on inwstment, for upgrading to the 2009 and 2012 IECC is available through the OCEAN website @and could be used to compile an energy code fact sheet for your state. 

## Resources

1. Energy Codes Create Belter Homes @ 2. Resjdenlial Energy Codes Build a Better Bottom Line @ 3. Commerdal Energy Codes Build a Better Bottom Line @ 4. 

### Wrt Enemy Codes Matter: What Adypcates Need to Know @ 5. 

### Wrt Enemy Codes Matter: VVhat Policy Ma!sers Neec! to Know @ 6. 

### Wrt Enemy Codes Matter: VVhat Consumers Nee!! to Know @ 7. Buildjnq Energy Codes Besource Gyjde for Poljcy Malq!rs**~** 8. Top Ten Reasons for Buildino Energy Codes 9. Building Energy Codes Fact Sheet @ 1 0. 

### Wrt Adoot Energy Codes? @ 11. Buj!djng Codes for Energy Efficjency @ 12. Green Jobs Stydy @

1. Alienee to Save Energy. 2010. Bulc!ing EnemyCodes Faa Sh!!l @ 2. Aliance to Save Energy. 2010. Byldjng EnemyCodes Faa Sheet @ 3. Belzer P, M Halvenon, and S Mc:Oonald. 2010. A Retrospealve Analysis of Commen:lal Buldlng

Energy Codes: 1990-2008. Building Energy Codea Program, Pacific Northweat National Laboratory, Richland,**Wash~gton.** 4. HouserT. 2009. The Eoonomics of Enemy Efliciency in Buildings @

. Poley Brief 09-17, Pete1110n

lnllllute for lntemllllonal Economics, Waahlngton, D.C. Acalseed January 13, 2009.



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### .energycodes.gov/resa.rce-cerder/AC Eladoplicn'step1 

### 213

### 7128f2015 step 

### 1. Understand the 

### Benefi1s of

### Code Adoption 

## IBuildirg Energy Codes PrO(J'am

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